Method for reducing emboli formation

Abstract

Methods and devices for reducing emboli formation during medical procedures. In accordance with the present invention a first medical device is passed through a stenosed area and activated to block fluid flow through the lumen, a second medical device including a filter is passed through the stenosed area and deployed. The first medical device is then deactivated to restore fluid flow through the lumen.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for reducing emboli formation, comprising:
 providing a first medical device, the first medical device comprising an occlusion member associated with a distal end thereof; 
 advancing the first medical device through a stenosis of a vessel to an occluding position that is distal the stenosis; 
 activating the occlusion member of the first medical device at the occluding position to restrict fluid flow across the stenosis; 
 providing an embolic protection filter having a collapsed state and an expanded state, the embolic protection filter comprising a polymeric filter membrane, a support structure supporting the membrane in the expanded state and a tubular element connected to the support structure and having an aperture for disposing the filter over a delivery device, wherein the embolic protection filter comprises a proximal inlet opening and a plurality of distal outlet openings, the outlet openings configured to allow fluid to flow through the filter but retain embolic material within the filter and the inlet opening is larger than any of the outlet openings; 
 distally advancing the embolic protection filter through the stenosis, while the occlusion member is activated and fluid flow across the stenosis is restricted, to a filtering position that is distal of the stenosis but proximal of the occluding position; 
 deploying the embolic protection filter at the filtering position from the collapsed state to the expanded state; and 
 deactivating the occlusion member of the first medical device after deploying the filter. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first medical device further comprises a guidewire and the occlusion member is an inflatable balloon. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first medical device further comprises a valve assembly disposed at a proximal end of the guidewire, the valve assembly movable between an open position and a closed position. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the inflatable balloon is positioned at the distal end of the guidewire, the guidewire is sized to receive the embolic protection filter over the guidewire, and the filter is translatable and rotatable about the guidewire. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first medical device further comprises a guidewire. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the guidewire is sized to receive the embolic protection filter over the guidewire, and the filter is translatable and rotatable about the guidewire. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first medical device is sized to receive the embolic protection filter thereover. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the occlusion member is an inflatable balloon. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the occlusion member comprises a plurality of slits formed adjacent a distal end of the catheter, the slits movable between a first undeployed position and a second deployed position. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing a medical procedure after deploying the embolic protection filter. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the medical procedure is balloon angioplasty. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the medical procedure is deploying a stent. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first medical device further comprises a guidewire, and accidental movement of the guidewire during exchange of a medical device during the medical procedure is accommodated without unintentionally moving the embolic protection filter. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the embolic protection filter is received within a space at a distal end of a delivery catheter, in its collapsed state, when the filter is advanced to the filtering position, and the medical procedure is deploying a stent. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the occlusion member is an inflatable balloon. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the medical procedure comprises deploying a stent at the stenosed area, and
 the stent is deployed after the occlusion member is deactivated and fluid flow across the stenosed area is restored. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , wherein after activating the occluding member, any embolic material from the stenosis that is present in the vessel cannot pass distal to the occlusion member. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the embolic protection filter is received within a space at a distal end of a delivery catheter, in its collapsed state, when the filter is advanced to the filtering position. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1 , wherein fluid flow across the stenosis is restored by deactivating the occlusion member.